Mission

Promoting a safe and legal digital world

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA educates consumers on software management and copyright protection, cyber security, trade, e-commerce and other Internet-related issues.

Established in 1988, BSA has programs in more than 60 countries worldwide.

Membership Details

BSA member companies represent the fastest growing industries globally and we are committed as an organization to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA’s top priorities include enhancing trust and security in cyberspace, reducing software piracy, promoting strong policies for intellectual property protection and free trade, and educating the public about sound software management practices.

BSA's acts against unauthorized use and copying of member company software in 60 countries throughout the world. BSA's anti-piracy enforcement program has resulted in substantial reductions in the level of software piracy around the world and in new market growth for legal computer software. This program has also educated users and governments on responsible software management practices and led to the shut down of pirate Internet sites, illegal CD presses and pirated software retail outlets.

As the leading voice for the software industry in capitals around the world and before multilateral organizations, BSA’s policy department works closely with BSA members to advocate strong intellectual property protection, increased security measures, reduction of trade barriers, liberal use of encryption technology, and other policies to enhance and facilitate the continued success of the software industry.

BSA's public affairs department seeks to educate the public about software piracy by engaging in "positive" marketing, advocating the benefits of legal software and software management. Members have the opportunity to participate in numerous public relations campaigns throughout the year designed to encourage companies, often in a specific industry or geographical area, to evaluate their software licenses and ensure that they are legal. These campaigns frequently generate significant increases in member software revenue from companies who want to do the right thing, but were previously not aware that they were not in compliance.

BSA is a member-driven organization and asks that representatives of member companies actively serve on regional committees, the policy council, the board of directors, and working groups created to address critical industry issues. BSA actions are taken with the guidance and advice of our member companies. While BSA requires a larger commitment than some trade associations in terms of dues and attention from member companies, it is an organization that moves quickly and effectively to show measurable results on industry priorities.

Benefits of BSA Membership

Membership in BSA allows companies to participate in and benefit from anti-piracy, marketing and public policy activities throughout the world. These include the following:

1.          BSA operates approximately 50 hotlines worldwide for callers to seek information about piracy and to report suspected incidents of software theft.

2.          BSA initiates audits, conducts raids and brings lawsuits against suspected software pirates, working closely with law enforcement agencies to coordinate enforcement of criminal copyright laws.

3.          BSA engages in "positive" marketing and education, advocating the benefits of legal software and responsible software management.

4.          BSA offers Tally System and GASP tools that audit computer systems so end users can voluntarily check software inventories against licensing agreements.

5.          BSA advocates for secure information networks, strong intellectual property protections, and other laws essential to the success of the software and computing industries. vBSA conducts an annual CEO Forum in Washington, bringing its member company CEOs together to meet with key policymakers in the White House, Administration and Congress to advocate critical industry policy positions. Senior executives from BSA member companies engage in similar activities in other regions of the world.

6.          BSA conducts an on-going series of Forums for industry General Counsels, providing them an opportunity to share ideas and concerns with each other and to lobby policymakers around the world.

Membership Categories

BSA currently has four Membership categories:

Worldwide Membership:
This level of membership is for software developers whose products are being pirated in one or more regions of the globe. Worldwide members automatically participate in North America and the Policy Council, and can opt to participate in other regions.

Regional Membership in Asia, Europe or Latin America:
This level of membership is for software developers whose products face unique challenges in one region of the globe or who wish to limit their focus of activity. Regional Members are limited to participation in only one region at a time.

Policy Council Membership:
This level of membership is for software developers, hardware makers and other computing-related companies that are interested in advocating for laws, regulations and treaties critical to the continued success of the software and computing industry.

Internet Piracy Membership:
This level of membership is for software developers who unauthorized distribution of their products on the Internet and wish to be part of the latest advances in industry efforts to combat this growing problem. BSA recently deployed an automated web crawler to search for and identify instances of Internet piracy involving member products.

Contact Information

BSA United States
1150 18th Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036

Phone: 202.872.5500
Fax: 202.872.5501

BSA Europe
79 Knightsbridge
London, UK
SW1X 7RB
Phone: + 44 (0)207.245.0304
Fax: + 44 (0)207.245.0310

BSA Asia
300 Beach Road
#25-08 The Concourse

Phone: + 65.6292.2072
Fax: + 65.6292.6369